THE Lusaka Water and Sanitation Company (LWSC) has warned of mass disconnections for properties and households with unpaid water and sewer bills regardless of the amount owed especially for those with bills exceeding 21 days.
LWSC public relations officer Ruth Mukuwa revealed in a statement that the utility is grappling with a staggering debt of over K500 million owed by domestic, commercial and institutional customers.
Mukuwa said the mounting arrears are crippling the company’s operations and its ability to deliver quality services.
The utility has since called on customers to settle their outstanding water and sewer bills immediately after every billing cycle.
The public relations officer stated that timely payments enable the company to continue delivering quality services in line with its mandate.
The utility spends over K630 million annually on operational expenses, which include energy costs, water and sewer treatment chemicals, repair materials and labour.
Mukuwa explained that without timely payments from customers, the company struggles to meet these financial obligations, directly impacting the quality and reliability of its services.
“These resources are vital for the company to store and distribute clean water to customers across various towns. Without timely customer payments, the company struggles to meet these financial obligations, directly impacting the quality and reliability of service provided.”
“While supply hours have been reduced due to the ongoing load management programme caused by drought, it is crucial to remember that every drop of water supplied comes at a cost,” she said.
Mukuwa noted that the measure of disconnection is regrettable, but necessary to maintain the company’s financial sustainability.
She urged customers to clear their arrears immediately to avoid disconnection.
“Looking ahead, LWSC is taking proactive measures to improve service delivery. The company is procuring 65,415 property meters to achieve a 100 percent metering ratio, prioritising the installation of 35,415 meters in 2025.”
“Accurate billing based on actual consumption will empower customers to regulate water usage, reduce wastage and promote responsible consumption,” she said.
The water utility revealed that it has also adopted digital meter reading technology to handhold devices which will capture and upload images of meters on site, ensuring accuracy and transparency.
“These advancements reflect LWSC’s commitment to providing efficient and customer focused services,” she said.
By Catherine Pule
Kalemba, December 17, 2024
 has warned of mass disconnections for properties and households with unpaid water and sewer bills regardless of the amount owed especially for those with bills exceeding 21 days.){kind=link}